Digital adaptive flight controller development

Digital fly-by-wire flight control systems are currently of interest because simple mechanical linkages are no longer able to cope with the many control problems associated with high performance aircraft. In view of this, a digital adaptive flight control algorithm has been developed by combining a weighted least squares estimator with optimal linear regulator control logic designed to minimize a quadratic model following performance index. Results for a typical fighter aircraft´s trajectory over six distinct flight conditions are very promising.